2021 Volvo S60 Review

　　

2021 Volvo S60 Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The entry-level luxury segment is loaded with strong competitors, but few are what we'd consider daring. The 2021 Volvo S60 is, therefore, something of an anomaly. On the outside, its angular sheet metal, upturned spoiler and distinct T-shaped headlights are as much a fashion statement as a pair of Valentino VA2003s — though slightly more practical for day-to-day use. The S60's cabin is similarly fashionable, detailed with open-pore wood trim, high-quality textile fabrics and convincing faux leather. For the shopper looking for striking transportation, the S60 surely meets the criteria.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volvo S60 T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 11/20 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$169/mo  for S60 T5 Momentum

　　S60 T5 Momentum

　　T5 Momentum 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 11/20 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $37,750 MSRPT5 Momentum 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $38,950 MSRPT5 Momentum 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $41,250 MSRPT5 R-Design 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $41,950 MSRPT5 R-Design 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,250 MSRPT5 Inscription 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $41,950 MSRPT5 Inscription 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,250 MSRPT6 Momentum 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 11/20 (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $42,250 MSRPRecharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 R-Design Expression 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $47,650 MSRPT6 R-Design 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 11/20 (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $48,000 MSRPT6 Inscription 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 11/20 (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $48,000 MSRPRecharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 Inscription 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $53,400 MSRPRecharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 R-Design 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $53,400 MSRPT8 Polestar Engineered 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $64,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Peel back the facade, and you'll find a car that drives even better than it looks. The S60's handling is sharp, the steering is direct and predictable, and acceleration is rapid. It's also reasonably priced compared to other compact sedans, with an options list that is both comprehensive and easy on the pocketbook. It isn't perfect — the touchscreen interface can be frustrating, and the optional sport suspension that gives the S60 its thrilling ride can be downright harsh. Even so, the Volvo S60's eye-catching design and well-rounded nature produce a desirable character unmatched by rivals.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the S60 drive? The Volvo S60 delivers a deft combination of performance with very little effort on the driver's part. The S60's twin-charged 2.0-liter, which features both a super- and turbocharger, is responsive and saucy. Its flexible powerband could easily be mistaken for a larger V6 engine. In our testing, it propelled the S60 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds, which more than satisfies expectations for the class.

　　The brakes have good mannerisms — they are easy to operate smoothly in everyday commuting, yet they exhibit powerful stopping capability. Steering and handling are just as impressive in the S60. This Volvo isn't as playful as some rear-wheel-drive sport sedans, but it allows you to move at a good clip without much effort.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the S60? The high comfort point for the S60 are its seats with their excellent balance of support and compliance and nice mix of cloth and leather upholstery. Unfortunately, the ride on our test vehicle skewed stiff likely due to the optional sport suspension.

　　Inside the cabin, noise is mostly dependent on the road surface you're on. Rougher and more textured pavement creates a low-frequency rumble that's ever present, while smoother surfaces return virtually no road noise. Wind noise is nicely isolated in nearly all situations. Finally, the climate control system's touchscreen dependence is far from ideal, but the four-zone system is effective at cooling and heating the cabin.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? We appreciate the appeal of Volvo's clean and simple interior design, but it comes at the expense of convenience and usability. Many functions are touchscreen-controlled, which detracts from the quick access and convenience provided by hard buttons. Almost everything takes two button presses when one would normally do, and that becomes a hassle when on the move.

　　The driving position will accommodate a broad range of body types thanks to the highly adjustable seats. Outward visibility is outstanding thanks to door-mounted mirrors and rear headrests that fold with the touch of a button. The abundant driver aids include an optional 360-degree camera to help you see all the corners around you.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The S60 benefits from an excellent optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a sharp nav system and effective driver aids. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard. Voice controls have a little bit more functionality than some rivals. You can use them to program the climate control, too, but the system didn't always fully understand our commands during our testing.

　　The optional Pilot Assist adaptive cruise control and standard lane keeping are well-sorted systems, and they will work down to a full stop. They don't operate as smoothly as some competitor systems, but they're certainly above average compared to the whole spectrum of offerings.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The S60's trunk is nice and wide but a little short. Either the load floor is high or the deck height is low, but overall volume is a couple of cubic feet smaller than in competitor luxury compacts. The hinges, however, are enclosed so there's no chance of crushing cargo in the back.

　　Interior cabin storage is mostly typical of a luxury sedan, with typically small cupholders and door pockets — there aren't many options for larger items such as purses or water bottles. Car seat installation is relatively easy thanks to thoughtful touches such as easy-release headrests.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Volvo's midtier T6 engine configuration is thirstier than most other four-cylinders in the segment, but it also has more power, at least on paper. We had few real-world fill-ups but didn't see averages much higher than 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the S60 a good value? On the whole, the S60 is legitimate competition for the German luxury mainstays. The Swedish approach may not feel as luxurious, but build quality looks to be as good as the best of them. Volvo offers plenty of high-end materials and puts them all together with care. Average scores for Volvo's warranty are buoyed by an above-average lifetime towing program and impressive scheduled-service coverage. And when it comes to equipment, you'll get a hair more for your dollar with this Swede than some of its German competitors.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The S60 is definitely one of the coolest new kids on the block. It's handsome, athletic, polished and confident. The sure-footed confidence that comes from the S60 T6's highly tractable power will have you grinning at how quick and easy this thing bends around corners. It's engaging yet safe. We're thankful Volvo decided to shed that whole contrived "naughty" campaign and get back to its Swedish roots. This brand is on the up and up, and we like what we see.

　　

Which S60 does zzdcar recommend?

We think the T6 engine is a sweetheart, but we won't begrudge anyone who doesn't need the thrust provided by a supercharged and turbocharged powerplant. If there's no wiggle room in your budget for this unique four-cylinder, get the T5 Momentum instead and spend the savings on options. The Premium and Advanced packages are worth a look, as is the affordably priced Harman Kardon audio system.

　　

2021 Volvo S60 models

The 2021 Volvo S60 is a compact luxury sedan. It comes with one of three available powertrains that Volvo calls the T5, T6 or Recharge T8. These powertrains can then be matched to one of three trim levels that influence how many features the S60 comes with. The trim levels are Momentum (called Inscription Expression for the Recharge powertrain), R-Design and Inscription.

　　The T5 has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque), while the T6 upgrades to a turbocharged and supercharged version of that engine (316 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque). The Recharge uses the same engine as the T6 but adds an electric motor and battery pack (combined 400 hp, 472 lb-ft). This is a plug-in hybrid powertrain that allows you to go about 22 miles on all-electric power before it switches over to regular gasoline power.

　　There is also a separate model called the S60 Polestar Engineered, which gets a high-output version of the Recharge plug-in hybrid powertrain. It puts out 415 hp and 494 lb-ft of torque.

　　At the beginning of the model year, the T5 was available with front-wheel drive, and the T6 and Recharge T8 came with all-wheel drive. Midway through the model year, Volvo replaced the T6 with an AWD version of the T5. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board.

　　Momentum (called Inscription Expression for the S60 Recharge T8)

　　This base trim level comes with:

　　18-inch wheels Panoramic sunroof Auto-dimming exterior and rearview mirrors Keyless entry and ignition Digital instrument panel Dual-zone automatic climate control Heated front seats (AWD only) Simulated leather upholstery Four USB ports (two USB-A, two USB-C) 9-inch touchscreen 10-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationAdvanced driving aids and safety features include:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse) Rear parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)Numerous packages and stand-alone options are available for the Momentum trim level. They include:

　　Premium package Navigation system Power-folding outboard rear headrests Front parking sensors Advanced package Premium package Ambient interior lighting Wireless charging pad (T5 and T6 only) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Volvo and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Volvo and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Climate package Heated front and rear seats Heated steering wheel 19-inch wheels 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Air ionizer (helps further filter and clean air in the cabin)R-Design

　　The R-Design is positioned as the sporty S60. Upgrades over the base model include:

　　Premium package Ambient interior lighting Four-zone automatic climate control (T5 and T6 only) Heated front sport seats with cloth bolstering 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio systemOptional features and packages include:

　　Advanced package (standard on Recharge T8) Climate package Sport-tuned suspension (T5 and T6 only) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio systemInscription

　　The Inscription offers more luxury features, building off the Momentum with these additions:

　　Premium package Chrome exterior trim Ambient interior lighting Four-zone automatic climate control (T5 and T6 only) Leather upholstery 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio systemThe Inscription's optional features mirror those of the R-Design, though the sport-tuned suspension is not available.

　　Polestar Engineered

　　The Polestar Engineered starts with the R-Design's upgrades, along with an uprated version of the Recharge model's plug-in powertrain. It also includes:

　　Advanced package 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires Brembo front brakes Special Öhlins suspension dampers Gold-colored seat belts 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system

　　

2021 S60 Highlights

Type: T8 Polestar EngineeredSedanPlug-in HybridSedan

　　Trim: T5 MomentumT5 InscriptionT5 R-DesignT6 MomentumRecharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 R-Design ExpressionT6 InscriptionT6 R-DesignRecharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 InscriptionRecharge Plug-In Hybrid T8 R-DesignT8 Polestar EngineeredT5 Momentum

　　

Base MSRP	$37,750
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$169/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	11.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles